Ego Deflated

Just when I started gaining confidence in my backing... I hit a post. :( no damage... and I dont understand how I did it cause my tire were over the yellow line on the left and a guy came yelling I hit a pole.. no damage. Wtf

So sorry

At least it was just a pole and none was hurt and nothing damaged.

At least it was just a pole and none was hurt and nothing damaged.

Very true. I asked for an easy door cause this place is tight.... he put me in a narrow door.. next to a pole... four parked cars... and across from a hydrant so I couldn't pull up. Every other door is narrower than those around them. Took me 4 u turns and 40 min but I got in. Just sucks cause I thought I was getting better. Had all tight places this week

That doesn't mean you're not getting better. It just means you still have room to keep getting better. Mistakes happen and considering what can happen in these things, this mistake wasn't that bad. Instead of letting your ego be delayed by this one, learn from it instead and let it help you become better.

At least it was just a pole and none was hurt and nothing damaged.

Very true. I asked for an easy door cause this place is tight.... he put me in a narrow door.. next to a pole... four parked cars... and across from a hydrant so I couldn't pull up. Every other door is narrower than those around them. Took me 4 u turns and 40 min but I got in. Just sucks cause I thought I was getting better. Had all tight places this week

Anytime things go badly, I ask myself "okay, what did I learn from this? " and then move on.

I feel ya. Been there, suffered through that. As soon as you can, figure out and admit to yourself what you did wrong, learn, and get past it. Because you're a bit rattled over this, your chances of another mishap are even greater. Believe me, I know. But you MUST get it behind you so you can drive in the present tense.

You ARE getting better at backing. You know this because when you first started, you probably never would have gotten close to docking at that location. Now, you know you can.

You also know that hitting stationary objects is almost always preventable. If it took 40 mins, (which is NOT a flaw) then 2 more, to get out and look would have been worth it. It always is.

And we all ask, "why-yyy did they put that pole there?"

My answer is, "So you'll HIT it."

This one was a freebie, 'cause there was no harm. It does get better and easier. Promise.

-mountain girl

Mountain Girl makes a great point:

You also know that hitting stationary objects is almost always preventable. If it took 40 mins, (which is NOT a flaw) then 2 more, to get out and look would have been worth it. It always is.

Great advice, not just for newer drivers but for all of us when faced with a close-quarter situation. Well put.

Sometimes the ego needs to be deflated because it blocks your judgement. Accidents happen when your ego blocks your judgement. Next time don't put so much air in the ego. Confidence with a helping of humility goes so much farther than an inflated ego does. Learn from it and move on.

“Failure is success in progress”

― Albert Einstein